the only Church with which he was formally connected. Twenty-eight years have elapsed since that time," said Mr. Kelly, in his funeral sermon. We have had abundant opportunities of knowing what he was. His ability was soon discovered, and his influence felt. He rapidly gained the confidence of the brethren, and in 1846 he was cordially chosen a deacon of this Church. To evangelical truth his attachment was enlightened and decided, as indeed might have been expected from the process through which he had passed to the attainment of peace. What his manner of life has been-how consistent his walk, how warm his interest in Christ's cause, how wise in counsel-it is superfluous in me to attempt to describe. You know what he was. You have seen how he acted; and I can add nothing to the impression which his living presence was fitted to produce.

"Nor was it in the Church alone that his worth was known. His force of character was such that his influence could not fail to be felt wherever he moved. in general intercourse and in the pursuits of business alike. He knew how to combine an enlightened attention to public affairs with an uncompromising fidelity to religious principle. Had his health been equal to the demands made upon him, he would have been one of the first of our public men. Nothing that bore on the welfare of society-on civil and religious liberty-on commercial freedom, and on popular education-was a matter of indifference to him. He was concerned, not only to do the right thing, but to do it in the right way. His principles were carefully chosen-were firmly held; and he was never afraid of carrying them out to their legitimate issues. He had faith in the good and the true, and he was only anxious that justice should be done to it; yet, however rigid was the tenacity with which he maintained what he believed to be true, it was united with a disposition so courteous and conciliatory that those who differed from him were compelled to respect him."

After a protracted illness, during which he enjoyed the consolations of the Gospel, Mr. Robertson entered into rest on the 15th of June, 1867, in the 58th year of his age.

THE REV. JOHN BURDER, M.A., FORMERLY OF STROUD.

THE subject of this notice was born on the 2nd of April, 1785, at Coventry. where his father, the Rev. George Burder, was at that time settled. His earlier years were passed partly in his native town, and partly at a boarding school at Hackney. Afterwards he studied at the theological college, then known as Hoxton Academy, whence removing to Glasgow, he completed the usual curriculum of university education, and took his degree in the year 1810. In December of the same year he commenced an experimental engagement at Stroud in the Congregational Chapel, called in the idiom of that day the Old Meeting. The prospect here was at first not encouraging. The Church had been torn by dissensions, and the attendance at the services was very scanty, ranging from fifty to one hundred persons; added to which, the wintry season, and the absence of any means of warming the chapel, contributed to the cheerless character of the undertaking.

But Mr. Burder was not the man to be dismayed by untoward appearances when he felt that he was in the path of duty. He renewed his probationary engagement, and after a few months, finding that the congregation increased, that some of the dissentients were returning to their places, and that a number of faithful friends were disposed to rally round him, he resolved to accept the pastorship. His ordination took place in September, 1811, when his honoured father gave the charge, and Mr. Lowell, of Bristol, amongst other ministers, took part in the

service. From this time Mr. Burder's influence in the town and neighbourhood steadily increased, and the Church and congregation under his charge prospered to such a degree, that the chapel was no longer able to accommodate the numbers that desired to attend. Under these circumstances it was determined to erect a new and commodious place of worship in another part of the town, the old building being retained for the use of such as might, for various reasons, prefer remaining there. The new chapel was opened in September, 1837, a friendly separation of the Church having previously taken place; and it is very characteristic of the disinterested spirit which animated all Mr. Burder's actions, that his earnest endeavours were given at this time to induce a sufficient number of persons to remain at the older place.

In the summer of 1843, influenced partly by family considerations, he resigned his pastoral charge, and removed to Bristol. But it was no part of his intention to lead an idle life, and in his new abode he soon found abundant opportunities of usefulness. For many years he seldom failed to preach twice on the Sunday, either occupying the pulpit of one of his brother ministers in Bristol, or taking his turn in conducting the services at some adjacent village. During a part of this time he undertook the entire charge of a small chapel at Tortworth, supported by the late Lord Ducie. At a later period he gave much attention to the congregation assembling at Highbury school-room, Durdham Down, undertaking many of the services himself, and providing supplies for the remainder. The people worshipping here regarded him much in the light of a pastor, and afterwards, on becoming developed into the Redland Park Church, they presented him with an elegant testimonial in acknowledgment of his gratuitous services. He took much interest, also, in the Floating Chapel for Seamen, and his last sermon was preached there. He was then over eighty years of age.

In Bristol, as at Stroud, religious and philanthropic societies occupied a large share of his time, and so little influenced was he by any considerations apart from the simple desire of doing good that, other things being equal, his services were always given by preference to such institutions as appeared to be languishing for want of support, although the object might be the least popular and the labour the most thankless. Amongst the multitude of benevolent movements with which he was more or less connected, the Temperance cause engaged for many years his warm and active sympathy.

The last two years of his life witnessed a slow but continuous decline of physical power, and one by one his numerous avocations were dropped. For six months before his decease he was confined to the house, and for seven weeks to his room, but he continued singularly free from actual disease, and his vigour of mind was preserved without serious impairment. Occasionally his imagination would carry him back to the active scenes of the past, and in preparing to fulfil a fancied engagement, or in dismissing a village congregation to their homes, he would show, in a manner inexpressibly touching to witness, how his heart was still in the work to which his whole life had been consecrated. During the last few days a failing appetite, with increasing weakness, and a gradually deepening indifference to external objects, gave sad token that the end was near, and at four o'clock in the morning of the 17th of May, 1867, he calmly entered into his rest.

In his home circumstances Mr. Burder experienced both the sweet and the bitter. In 1817 he married Elizabeth, daughter of William Corbett, Esq., of Reading, and had enjoyed ten years of unruffled domestic happiness, when, in 1827, death rudely snatched from him the partner of his life and the mother of his five children. In 1835 he contracted a second marriage, with Sarah, daughter of the late Andrew Pope, Esq., of Bristol. This lady survives him.

Of Mr. Burder's published works, the principal are, a volume of "Lectures on Religion," originally delivered at Stroud, in 1824; "Sermons to Children;" an Ordination Discourse, entitled "The Church and its Ministers;" a " Memoir of his younger brother, Dr. Thomas Harrison Burder;" a "Collection of Psalms and Hymns;" and a treatise, called The Two Organs;" designed to encourage the use of the voice in Congregational Psalmody in preference to instrumental music.

WILLIAM RUTT, ESQ.

MR. WILLIAM RUTT, who has been removed in the 81st year of his age, was intimately identified with Congregational Nonconformity, and took an active part in many of our benevolent and religious institutions. He possessed a vigorous intellect, a sound judgment, remarkable firmness and consistency of character, combined with much courtesy and sincerity of friendship. His adherence to principle was unswerving, his sympathy with every good work generous and active, and he was held in deserved esteem by a large circle of friends with whom he mingled in private intercourse and public usefulness. Addicted to scientific pursuits, he co-operated with distinguished men in some of the achievements of an age probably the most wonderful in the history of the world in relation to material and scientific progress, and in these pursuits he retained an interest till the last. But he felt a yet deeper interest in the moral advancement of society, and to this object he devoted himself with characteristic ardour. In connection with Drs. Pinkerton and Paterson, he assisted his brother in superintending the printing of Bibles in Russia; for many years he was a deacon at St. Thomas's-square, Hackney, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. H. F. Burder, and for seventeen years he rendered valuable service as honorary secretary to the Congregational Board of Education. This office he resigned in 1861, to the deep and sincere regret of his colleagues, who unanimously expressed their esteem in the following resolution :"That while the Board feel obliged to acquiesce in the decision of their honorary secretary, Mr. William Rutt, to relinquish the connection which has subsisted between them for the last seventeen years, they accept his resignation with the deepest regret, tender to him their warmest thanks for his valuable services, and express the hope that he may enjoy throughout the remainder of his life, the presence and blessing of that Lord and Master who has enabled him so largely to promote the religious education of the young on principles intimately related to our national well-being, and in strict harmony with the requirements of that kingdom which is not of this world."

In March, 1861, Mr. Rutt left London for Herne Bay, where he enjoyed the quiet of retirement, interesting himself in the religious activities of the locality, ever ready to avow his attachment to the great principles of civil and religious liberty, endeared to him by hereditary association and deep conviction. His illness was brief, and in the last conflict his mind was stayed on Him whom he had so long and faithfully served. "He came to his grave, in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season." On Saturday, July 6, his remains were interred in the Abney Park Cemetery, the Rev. John Davies, of Gravel Pits Chapel, whose ministry he had for some time attended, officiating on the occasion.

A funeral sermon was preached at the Congregational Church, Herne Bay, by the Rev. Dr. Unwin, who had been associated with Mr. Rutt for many years in connection with the Board of Education, from Heb. xii. 23,-" Ye are come . . . to the spirits of just men made perfect."